My Canoe overset, & in ascending the bank I rec^ a very Severe Cut by a fall on my wounded leg which had very nigh rendered me incapable of proceeding, however on finding myself a little easier I held a Congress with them 2 days after which they opened with a Speech wherein they made many enquiries after news, & whether a War was not to be commenced between England France & Spain, They said they were well assured of

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 949

this, & that there were many things which gave thero much concern, amongst the rest That some of y". nation continued Obstinately bent on War, and that they feared it would Compell them to disturb the Cherokees & others with whom they had made peace. That the Intrusions of the New Englanders into Pennsylvania they were afraid would draw Some of their people into a War, and that it gave them concern to find that those persons who !iad the Management of the Trade were removed : -- I gave them all the satisfaction in my power on these heads & afterwards proceeded for Cayuga where there were about 500 Indians Assembled, with whom I had a meeting to much the Same effect as with the Onondagas only I observed that the further I advanced into tlie Indian Country, the more earnest the Indians appeared in their Sev^ discourses. I next went to Seneca, where I had Summoned the chiefs of that nation as also those Indians living near the head of Ohio to meet me, who Soon Assembled to the number of 2000 & upwards, before I met them in publick I was visited by two Chiefs in whom I have always had reason to place much confidence who told me that they had laboured hard for Some months to keep their people in order and to prevent their receiving Sev^. belts which had been Sent to their Country for very bad purposes, but that nevertheless many came to their hands which had occasioned a Spirit of Discontent ams* them as I would find on opening the Congress, about the Same time Messengers arrived notifying the approach of a number of Cherokee Chiefs who were coming to attend a Geni Congress to be held at Onondaga at the beginning of next month to which the chiefs of all the Canada confederacy & other Northern Indians were Summoned to renew & Strengthen Alliances.